Monolithic underground insulation



March 24, 1931.

E. R. POWELL 1,797,443

MONOLITHIC- UNDERGROUND INSULATION Filed Aug. 24 1928 Patented Mar. 24,1931 PATE Nr y OFFICE.

EDWARD R. POWELL, 0F ALEXANDRIA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 BANNER ROCK COR-PORATION, OF ALEXANDRIA, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE MONOLITHICUNDERGROUND INSULATION I Application led Auguilt` 24, 1928. Serial N0.301,852.

This invention relates to a monolithic underground insulation andprocess of forming same.

The chief object of the inventionis to provide an underground insulationsuitable for one or more pipes and which is self-draining andVentilating permitting ready drainage when flooded and permitting normalcondensation drainage.

Another object of the invention is to form the insulation monolithic incharacter and in situ.

The chief feature of the invention consists in forming a suitablesupport or base of concrete or the like, enveloping the pipe or pipes tobe insulated with a mineral wool jacket or pipe insulation, thenembedding in the concrete base a concrete or cement mortar retainingform member and arranging the same in insulation encircling relation andin spaced relation thereto, and then coveringthe same with cement, orthe like, to form a substantially continuous monolithic construction.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims: f

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view with parts progressivelybroken away to show the invention in detail, certain of the parts beingbroken away to show other parts of the invention in longitudinalsection. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a single pipe.embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but of a construction inclosing aplurality of ipes.

In the drawings 10 indicates the ottom of a trench having the side walls11, and extending downwardly therefrom is a drain 12. In said trench ispositioned a pipe 13 for the transmission of steam, or the like. Thefoundation is excavated at 14 and concrete 15 embeds a plate or bracketsupport 16 which supports a plate 17 mounting a roller 18 which supportsthe pipe and permits the pipe to roll longitudinally thereon when itexpands and contracts. The trench is provided with a foundation ofbroken stone 19 and above the same is positioned a base of concretewool, although if the wool is of water proof character the wool itselfwill resist water penetration. The insulation and wrapping is secured inpipe enveloping relation by rust proof means such as spaced copper wires24.

Successive lengths of what is commonly known as hy-rib metal lath 25 isthen succesively embedded in the concrete base portion 20, with thelongitudinal rib portions 26 extending longitudinally of the pipe axis.The rib or metallic form member is apertured as at 27 in any suitable ordesired manner, but such apertures or perforations should be smallenough so as to retain the concrete or Portland cement mortar which ispositioned without this form member. The ribs 26 as hereinbefore statedextend inwardly toward the pipe and terminateh in spaced relationtherewith. To maintain the same in spaced relation, a spacing strip ofasphalitc material 28 is positioned in partially enveloping relationupon the insulation, see Fig. 1. The successive lengths of metal lathare overlapped, if preferred at one of these strips. A suitable numberof intermediate strips 28 may also be employed, the rib on the lathbearing upon or partially embedding itself in the asphaltic spacingstrip. This arrangement permits for the compensation or accommodation reuired by expansion.

he aforesaid construction forms the air upper Ventilating and lowerdraining spaces 30 between adjacent ribs. After the metalA lath has beenembedded in concrete base 20 to the desired depth and in spaced relationto the insulation forming the lower watertion, positioned as aforesaidand referably with the longitudinal joint forme as a lap f jointintermediate the ribbing and at the upper side of the envelopingconstruction. Portland cement mortar or concrete 40 is then laced aroundthe metal rib lath and the same orms an inner form therefor, and asnoted, the concrete is locked by the tongues 43 to the lath. After thecement, mortar or concrete has suiciently hardened, the back tilling 41may be applied to close the trench.

The resultant construction is not necessaril confined to a single pipe,but a plurality, oiY pipes such as a heating system including va steamsupply pipe 113 and a condensate return pipe 213 may be covered by a sinle construction such as enveloping insulation '121 and the metal lath125 and concrete or cement 140. The usual air spaces 130 and the waterdrainage spaces 130 are similarly provided. In Fi 3 like or similarparts are similarly num ered but are of the one hundred series.

The invention claimed is:

1. The process of formin a monolithic in sulation for piping or the l1e, including the steps of enveloping piping with mineral fiberinsulation, enveloping the insulation enveloped piping with a form inspaced relation thereto, and then forming in interlocked relation amonolithic covering in spaced relation to the piping insulation.

2. The process of forming a continuous monolithic insulation for pipingor the like including the steps of enveloping piping with mineral fiberinsulation, enveloping the insulation enveloped iping with sections of aform, interposmg etween said insulation and said form sections at thesection joints suitable spacing and supporting strips, and forming amonolithic covering in spaced relation to the piping and insulation.

3. In the process of covering under round pipes the steps of forming amoldab e base beneath the plpe, embedding a molding form in said base,enveloping the pi e with insulation in spaced relation to the orm toform a Water channel therebetween, envelopin the insulated pipe with themolding form to orm air spaces therebetween and completin the monolithiccovering over and about the orm.

4. An insulation construction for pi ing an overlap ed jointed coveringtherefor, a plurality o pipe envelopinlgl metal lath sections arrangedin substantie y continuous relation, a lurality of yielding spacingstrips interpose between the lath sections and the insulation formaintainingspaced relation therebetween, and a moldable covering forsaid lath. 7. A device as defined by claim 6 characterized by theaddition of means for securing the covering in enveloping relation, thesame being mounted on said covering in spaced relation.

8. A construction as defined by claim 6, characterized by the insulationstrips being positionable at the transverse joints of said metal lathsections for supporting opposite adjacent ends thereof.

9. A device as defined by claim 6 characterized by the metal sectionsbeing of hy-rib character, with the rib extending inwardly and formingoutwardly directed grooves and a plurality of passages between the lathand the insulation, said moldable covering extending into said groovesand being interlocked thereby to the lath.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto ailix my signature. l

EDWARD R. POWELL.

and the like comprising insulation enve op- 'n ing the pipe and amonolithic coating therefor in spaced relation thereto, and meansforming air and water drain passages therebetween.

5. In combination a plurality of parallel pipes, insulation envelopingthe same, and a single monolithic coating therefor in spaced relation tothe insulation and means associated therewith forming an air and waterdrain passage therebetween.

6. A continuous insulation coating comprising a piping enveloping.insulation tube,

